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Showcasing your Skills: in CVs & Applications
Sports Development
Sophie CareyOctober 2016
Beside the campus bookshop, near to the James Joyce Library
Career Development CentreWhere are we located?
www.ucd.ie/careerswww.ucd.ie/careers
Your Career Development Centre
• Appointments – 20 mins: Mon-Fri & late Weds
– Book via our website on the day from 8am
• Vacancies & internships
• Events
• Online resources
Session Overview
• What are employability skills?
• What skills are graduate employers seeking?
• Understanding your skills
• Translating this to the CV & application form
• Questions
Employability“….a set of attributes, skills and knowledge that
all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy”
What are employers looking for?
The ‘perfect’ applicant
Academic achievement
Transferable skills
Work experience
Drive & motivation
Understands the role
& organisationKnows what they want
Transferable Skills• Skills developed in one context that can be applied in
another
• Developed via:– Academic studies– Work experience – paid/voluntary– Other activities/interests e.g. sports
What have you done outside
the library?• Sports
• Clubs & Societies
• Part-time jobs
• College involvement
• Other Internships
• Volunteering
Everything you do counts!
Individually… (2 minutes)
1. List 5 skills you have developed through your involvement in sports – as player, coach, volunteer or committee member.
2. Compare this list with your neighbour
Key skills that graduate employers seek
Communication –written & verbal
Influencing Teamwork
Problem solving LeadershipPlanning & organising
Initiative Drive and
motivationAbility to work under pressure
Commercial awareness
/business acumenConfidence
Ability to manage own learning
Your CV is there… somewhere!
Only seconds to make a good impression…
Effective Applications –CVs and Cover Letters
• Font size 11 or 12, 1-2 pages
• Avoid funny fonts
• Avoid abbreviations
• Consistency – spacing, indentation etc.
• Avoid large blocks of text
• Bold for emphasis but don’t overdo
Format Guidelines
Convey Action, Energy, Drive, Determination…
• Analysed • Prepared• Organised• Facilitated• Researched• Monitored• Maintained• Supervised• Managed
• Trained• Planned• Initiated• Improved• Reviewed• Responsible• Involved• Participated• Negotiated
Sample CV Structure
1. Personal Details
2. Education
3. Employment History
4. Skills
5. Interests and Achievements
Highlight your sports involvement in these sections
• Keep it brief
• Contact details
• Name across the top
• No need to write Curriculum Vitae
• Professional email address*
*Not ‘[email protected]’
Personal Details
Jane Black12 Madeup Rd,
Bridgend, Co Dublin.
Tel: + 353 1 [email protected]
Your LinkedIn URL if you have one
Education
Bachelor of Civil Law, University College Dublin 2012-2016
• GPA: 3.40/4.20 (2.1 Honours)
• Relevant Subjects?
• Dissertation?
Leaving Certificate, St. Mary’s College, Foxrock 2007-2012
• 510 points, including A1 in Honours English
• Reverse chronological order• Include:
– Name and location of employer– Job title– From/to dates– Concise description responsibilities– Key achievements
Employment History
How? & Impact?… not just Tasks
Intern, McCann Fitzgerald August 2015
• Re-organised filing system
OR
• Re-organised the firm’s online filing system, significantly enhancing fee earners’ ability to find the information they required quickly and efficiently
• Highlight transferable & technical skills
• Strong, clear, concise language
• Tailor to each application
• Supporting evidence is essential
Skills Section
facebook.com/ucdcareers @ucdcareerswww.ucd.ie/careers
Self Awareness
• Students who attend this session should be able to:
facebook.com/ucdcareers @ucdcareerswww.ucd.ie/careers
Reflecting on your skills
• Briefly describe an experience related to playing, coaching or volunteering in Sports where you had accomplished something that made you feel very happy and fulfilled.
• Identify three (or more) skills you used to make it happen
• Now write it down! Describe this succinctly.. (Build up your ‘bank’ of examples)
ExamplesAction Skills involved
Organized a Christmas meal for 50 homeless people on a 100 EUR budget, with a team from my university, local community centre or church etc.
Planning and time management;Negotiation;Delegating;Cooperation:Public speaking
Trained for 8 months to participate in a local tennis competition, while being involved in normal course work and a part-time job in a cafeteria.
Multitasking ;Perseverance;Discipline;Time management;Self-management
Resolved a dispute with a tricky landlord in order to get my deposit back, on behalf of a group of 3 flatmates.
Interpersonal and communication;Leadership;Research;Problem-solving
Communication Skills
• Developed communications skills through my role as PRO for the UCD Trampoline Club where I liaised proactively with employers to secure sponsorship for a number of events on campus and dealt with all media enquires
Leadership Skills
• Demonstrated in my role as Event Manager for the UCD Boxing Club where I managed a team of volunteers to organise two major events per year which involved, planning, delegation of tasks and securing of sponsorship etc…
Resilience & Determination
• As an Ad Astra Sports scholar on the Elite Athlete programme, demonstrated a high level of commitment to pursuing excellence in my field and achieved several sporting awards etc.
• Show evidence of enthusiasm and commitment via- Length of time involved- Standards, prizes, awards, money raised etc.- Going beyond the activity
• Avoid generalisations e.g. football• Say more… how often do you train, do you coach, do
you have a specific role on the team, outreach to schools etc.
• Let the recruiter understand your level of involvement which can demonstrate not only skills but commitment, dedication, resilience etc.
Interests and Achievements
• References available on request
• If requested provide at least two referees preferably one work related and one academic
• Provide full contact details i.e. name, job title, organisation, address, telephone number, email address
• BE SURE to get permission
References
Deal Breakers!• Typos - fastest route to the bin
• Incorrect grammar
• Txting lingo is nt gr8
• Busy format
• Thinking one size fits all
• Inaccurate information or just plain lying
• Not tailoring to what employer wants
Spell Check Can’t Do Everything...
• Full clean drinking licence• Repressing my classmates as Class Rep• Extra Circular Activities • I am a conscious individual• Dear Madman • My hobbits include
Purpose of a Cover Letter
• As important as the CV
• Like the CV it must ‘make the sale’
• Conveys your enthusiasm for the post
• Demonstrates your ability to write well and express yourself clearly in business format
• Must make a clear match between the job specification and your background
Letter to PWC:
The reason why I want to join KPMG is….
• Paragraph 1 - Introduction
• Paragraph 2 - Why the firm/role
• Paragraph 3 - Why the employer should consider you – your experience & Skills
• Paragraph 4 – Finishing/sign off
Cover Letter Content
Effective Application Forms
Application Forms
• Types of Question
- Competency (Commercial Awareness, Adaptability)
- Motivational (Why commercial law? Why us?)
• Draw upon your experience and use concrete examples from your internship/other areas of work experience/extra curricular activity
Online Application Tips
• Allow enough time – don’t leave until last minute
• Answer all parts
• Print a blank copy first
• Type answers in word & copy into form
• Save as you go
• Have all results to hand
• Keep a copy
• Ask someone to review your application
Useful Web Sites….
www.ucd.ie/careers
www.gradireland.com
www.prospects.ac.uk
Semester 2 - FYI
• Internships Fair
– Weds 1st Feb, Astra Hall
• Volunteering Fair
– Tues 28th Feb, UCD Global Lounge
Follow us on Twitter! @UCDCareers
